What Happened To Jung Ho Kang, Jung Ho Kang was a promising baseball player from South Korea who signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, General, what-happened-to-jung-ho-kang, JPOSE
Jung Ho Kang was a promising baseball player from South Korea who signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015. He quickly became a fan favorite, known for his powerful hitting and solid defense at third base. However, his career was derailed by a series of off-field incidents that led to his departure from the Pirates and his current status as a free agent.
The first incident occurred in December 2015, when Kang was arrested in South Korea for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was fined and had his driver's license suspended, but the incident did not result in any discipline from the Pirates.
In June 2016, Kang was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in Chicago. He was not charged with a crime, but the incident led to a league investigation and a three-game suspension from the Pirates.
Later that year, Kang was involved in a car accident while driving under the influence of alcohol in South Korea. He received a suspended sentence and a fine, but the incident led to a visa issue that prevented him from entering the United States for the 2017 season.
Kang missed the entire 2017 season while dealing with the visa issue and rehabbing from his injuries. He returned to the Pirates in 2018 but struggled on the field, hitting just .169 in 65 games.
In December 2018, Kang was arrested once again in South Korea for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, which was suspended for two years, and had his driver's license revoked.
The Pirates declined to offer Kang a contract for the 2019 season, making him a free agent. Since then, he has not played in the major leagues and has struggled to find a team willing to take a chance on him.
Kang's fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of off-field behavior and the impact it can have on a player's career. While he was once a rising star in the league, his repeated run-ins with the law have made him a liability for any team considering signing him. It remains to be seen whether he will ever play in the major leagues again.